At the end of the day, the whale and Ruri walked hand in hand towards the two clans. Ruri was radiant, and her clothing no longer felt tight. The whale made some modifications to the dress, making it more comfortable, with several areas now more open.
It wasn't just that which changed; now, Ruri simply clung to the whale's arm, refusing to climb onto their shoulders. When they looked at her strangely for just holding onto their arm, Ruri spoke firmly.
"I'm no longer a child; I'll stay down here; it's easier to jump on your back in emergencies," Ruri spoke calmly, squeezing herself against their arm. They simply ignored that soft feeling against their arm, pretending not to understand what she was trying to do.
"Keep this spot for the future..." Ruri murmured but interrupted her words midway, unable to finish.
